Seat attachment for boats

ABSTRACT

A SEAT ATTACHMENT FOR BOATS WHICH INCLUDES A RECTANGULAR, TUBULAR MAIN FRAME HAVING CLAMP MEANS FOR DETACHABLY SECURING THE FRAME TO THE SIDES OF THE BOAT. A SUBFRAME CARRYING A SEAT IS SLEEVEDLY ENGAGED WITH OPPOSED   SIDES OF THE TUBULAR MAIN FRAME TO PERMIT SLIDING ADJUSTMENT OF THE SUB-FRAME LONGITUDINALLY OF THE MAIN FRAME.

Feb. 27, 1973 c. E. GIBSON 3,7l,365

SEAT ATTACHMENT FOR BOATS Filed March 17, 1971 v 2 sheets sheet l I NVENTOR Curr/s E. Gibson 7, 1973 c. E. GIBSON 3,718,365

SEAT ATTACHMENT FOR BOATS Filed March 17. 1971 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Curfis E. Gibson WW M A T TOR/VEYS 3,718,365 a Y SEAT ATTACHMENT FOR BOATS r Curfis E. Gibson,.Rte. 6, Box 446, Natchez, Miss. 3912 Filed Mar. 17, 1971, Ser. No. 125,180

Int. Cl. A-47c 1/00 US. Cl. 297-349 ABSTRACT oF-Tnn msctosonn United statesPatentOific i -'4 Claims 2 A seat attachment for boats which includes a rectarigular, tubular main frame having clamp means for detachably securing the frame. tothe sides of the boat. A subframe carrying a seatis sleevedly engaged with opposed sides of the tubular main frame to permit sliding adjustment of the sub-frame longitudinally of the main frame.

Another object is to provide an attachment of the character described wherein the seat is higher than the conventional boat seat, thereby affording increased comfort to the user.

A further object is to provide a seat attachment for boats which includes a main frame extending between, and detachably secured to, the sides of the boat, and a subframe on which is mounted a swivel seat, the sub-frame and swivel seat being firmly anchored on, but slidably movable longitudinally of, the main frame, to effect equal distribution of weight in the boat.

Other objects are to provide an attachment of the character described which requires little maintenance and is not aifected by weather or temperature; to provide an attachment which can be installed without the need of tools; can be located over an existing boat seat without regard to placement in the boat; and gives complete use of the space beneath the attachment.

DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the seat attachment of the present invention, illustrating its use;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view thereof;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 33 of FIG. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows and showing the present seat attachment in elevation;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the sub-frame forming a part of the present invention, and

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the clamp unit forming a part of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring now in greater detail to the drawing, the attachment of the present invention generally includes a main frame and a sub-frame 12 which is attached to the main frame, the attachment being secured to the sides of a small boat 14.

Main frame 10 is of generally open rectangular shape in conformation, the frame being made from a single tubular member which is bent to provide opposed longitudinal, parallel sides 16 and 18 and ends 20 and 22, the terminals of the tubular member being welded together at 24.

Adjacent the juncture of the sides and ends of the frame there are provided like clamping units 26, 28, 30 and 32, which units are in sleeved engagement with sides 16 and 18 of the frame.

3,718,365 Patented Feb. 27., 1973 As shown to advantage in FIG. 5, each of said clamping units includes a tubular member 34 sleeved over sides 16 and 18 to which tubular member an inverted U-shaped clamp 36 is connected. A semi-cylindrical member 37 of inverted U-shape in cross-section extends axially from inverted U-shaped clamp 36 and is located beneath and perpendicular to, the longitudinal axis of tubular member 34. As shown in FIG. 1, each inverted U-shaped clamp and semi-cylindrical member are engaged over the upper edge of the boat sides and clamped thereto by a set screw 38 threaded through a leg of the clamp. Sleeved tubular member 34 is slidably mounted on, and movable longitudinally with respect to, sides 16 and 18 of main frame 10 to permit adjustment of the unit to accommodate boats of different widths.

Sub-frame 12 includes a pair of like parallel tubular .members40 and 42 which are sleeved over parallel sides 16 and 18 of main frame 10, the tubular members being joined together by spaced parallel connectors 44 and 46.

A swivel seat unit 48 of conventional construction is fixed to sub-frame 12 in any suitable manner, so that the swivel seat and sub-frame are movable as a unit longitudinally of main frame 10 transversely of the boat. Unit 48 includes a base plate 50 which spans parallel connectors In use of the attachment of the present invention, the attachment is placed on top of the boat in the manner illustrated in FIG. 1, and inverted U-shaped clamps 36 of each of clamping units 26, 28, 30 and 32 secured to the sides of the boat by set screw 38 to prevent movement of the main frame with respect to the boat.

Swivel seat unit 48, engaged with sub-frame 12 may then be moved transversely of the boat by sliding engagement of tubular members 40 and 42 on opposed side tubular members 16 and 18 of main frame 10. No locking engagement between the frame and sub-frame is necessary since, upon application of weight to the swivel seat when the user is seated, accidental movement of the subframe and swivel seat with respect to the main frame is prevented by the frictional engagement of tubular members 40 and 42 of sub-frame 12 with tubular members 16 and 18 comprising the sides of the main frame.

When it is desired to remove the attachment from the boat, it is only necessary to loosen set screws 38 of each clamping unit, threby permitting removal of the attachment as a unit.

With the attachment of the present invention, an economic and simple attachment is provided for positioning a comfortable seat on a small boat without in any way interfering with other parts of the boat. The attachment permits complete use of the room beneath the seat portion and allows the seat to be adjusted transversely of the boat as desired to balance the weight within the boat. The seat may be located above the permanent boat seat if desired without regard to placement in the boat. The manner of engaging the seat-bearing sub-frame to the frame firmly anchors the seat in position While at the same time per mitting ready lateral adjustment thereof to redistribute the weight in the boat.

The present attachment requires little or no maintenance, is not alfected by weather or temperature, and requires no tools for the installation and removal thereof.

While there has been herein shownand described the presently preferred form of the present invention, it is to be understood that such has been done for purposes of (a) said frame includes a single length of a tubular illustration only, and various changes may be made therein member," within the scope of the appended claims. (b) said tubular member being bent into a rectangular What I claim is: shape, and

1. A seat attachment for boats including: 5 (0) means for fixedly connecting the terminals of said (a) a main frame adapted to extend transversely over tubular member together.'

the boat, 3. The seat attachment of claim 1, wherein (b) said main frame including spaced, parallel, longi- (a) said means for attaching said frame to the sides of tudinal members, i the boat comprise clamp units, (c) connectors joining the terminals of said longitudinal (b) each of said clamp units including an inverted U- members, a shape clamp engaged over the upper edge of a side (d) means for attaching said main frame to the sides of the boat, and

of the boat, 1 (c) a tightening bolt extending through said U-shape (e) a sub-frame mounted on said main frame, clamp into retaining engagement with the boat side. (f) said sub-frame including spaced, parallel tubular 4. The seat attachment of claim 1, wherein members sleeved over and-in frictional engagement said seating member comprises a swivel seat. throughout their length with the parallel, longitudinal members of said main frame, I I Refel'ences clfed (g) connectors joining the terminals of said tubular UNITED STATES PATENTS members, and (h) a seating member connected to said sub-frame and gi 297*344 V tter 297-349 therewth 3 507 472 4/1970 A t 1 248-429 (i) whereby said sub-frame may be relocated longitu- 2858877 11/1958 e a 344 dinally of the spaced, parallel longitudinal-members a muse 297'- 2 836 223 5/1958 Kent 9-7 when no welght is applied to the seating member, and 12/1968 Doh t 9 7 is held in fixed engagement with respect to the main e frame by frictional engagement of the spaced-tubu- FRANCIS ZUGEL Primar'y Examiner lar members of the sub-frame with the spaced longitudinal members of the main frame when weight is applied to said seating member.

2. The seat attachment of claim 1, wherein G. MOORE, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 

